US Roadtrip Highlights, A Directory

As a post-scriptum to thenotes from my roadtrip across the US, I have put together a list of the restaurants we enjoyed (plus a handful of non food-related stores/services), should you find yourself in the areas we visited.

Alpine Pizza Very good choose-your-own-toppings pizzas, which can be shared with two new friends on the night of July 4th, to make up for the cancellation of the fireworks due to the recent forest fires in the area. 7 N Leroux Street – (928) 779-4109

Joe’s Place Breakfast place. Blissfully fresh salad, good biscuits with sausage gravy (ask for it on the side so you can decide how much of the white gloop you want on yours). 608 12th Street – (805) 238-JOES

–Monterey

Monterey’s Fish House Seafood restaurant, very popular with those who wish to steer clear of the Fisherman’s Wharf options. Humongous and delicious oysters, very good crab cakes, and large choice of fresh fish, particularly tasty when charcoal-grilled. 2114 Del Monte Avenue – (831) 373-4647

–Palo Alto

Miyake Our very favorite sushi bar. The place becomes a zoo at night since it is a popular destination for large groups of students, but that’s fun to watch. 140 University Ave – (650) 323-9449

–Mountain View

In-N-Out Fast food, the fresh way. Very short menu, to which one has to add the (not so) secret menu (in French, that kind of open secret is called a secret de Polichinelle). My preference goes to the animal-style cheeseburger. 1159 N Rengstorff Ave – (800) 786-1000

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts The original glazed can’t be beat, but what I love the most is to watch the birth of the doughnuts in the mini-factory, especially when they glide through the curtain of glaze on the conveyor belt. (Make sure the “hot” sign is lit outside.) 2146 Leghorn St – (650) 254-1231

–Los Gatos

Manresa Garden-fresh ingredients and elegant, inventive dishes, the kind you get when you put California, Spain, and France in a shaker. 320 Village Lane – (408) 354-4330

And this post marks the end of my roadtrip write-up, although you will most likely hear about it again when I attempt to recreate some of our favorite dishes — any Cajun cookbook recommendations?

It sounds like you and Maxence enjoyed a wonderful journey with lots of good memories.

Alexis

Frontier sweet rolls. Mmmm! Frontier is classic New Mexican food of the mixed Albuquerque culture in the university area, very tasty stuff and the best flour tortillas ever (have them with butter and honey). Although if you are ever in NM again, I recommend Monroe’s, which has been my family’s favorite for 20 years now. They are friendly and have lots of wonderful, very traditional NM food. No sweet rolls, though. :/

shari

I shall join the chorus of people who wish they could have waved as you passed – Goode Co. is just down the street from me. Houston may not be much to look at, but the food is *wonderful*.

Amy’s (the one in Houston, just a little bit north and the other side of 59) introduced me to avocado ice cream and fig & pepper ice cream on the same memorable June evening two years ago.

BG

As another person wrote, now you must plan a northern-US road trip! You can fly non-stop from Paris-CDG to Boston, then come to Cambridge (our fair city), which tries to market itself as “Boston’s Left Bank” (well, we are on the left side of the Charles River, and we’re certainly about as “left” politically as anywhere in the U.S.). We can show you the piece of sidewalk where “Bon Appetit — J.C.” is scratched in the cement — that’s the legacy of Julia Child, who did so much to raise America’s awareness of food and cuisine, who encouraged so many young chefs, and who lived for many years about two blocks from where I am right now. And from here, your loyal C & Z fans can guide you to the culinary treasures across the northern U.S. ….

noreen

I always dreamed of driving all the way across I-10 from Jacksonville to California. But it’s a long way from Miami to Alabama. I’m curious as to where (besides Sonic) you might have eaten between Gainesville and Mobile.

http://www.amysicecreams.com/locations/index2.asp phoody

There are several Amy’s Ice Creams in Austin also one in San Antonio and two Amy’s ice creams in Houston. I know Amy and she’s really nice.

http://dinewell.com jamie

I actually went to Guero’s tonight (Austin). I had a tamale, a cheese enchilada with rosa sauce, and a fajita beef taco (dinner combo #1). It was amazing.

I’m sorry you missed Moonshine, an upscale “comfort food” place about a mile from Congress. Unbelievable food; the peanut butter pie is worth its weight in gold.

I hope you got a cherry limeade at Sonic! Glad you had a good trip.

mary

wow! paso robles is only about 15 miles from my house! i’m glad you visited. san luis obispo also has some really great restaurants. in fact, san luis obispo county is quite full of great eateries. i hope you’ll pass through again some time!

http://www.eyepreferparis.com richard

I used to live in Miami and I would go to Puerta Sagua every other night for dinner. It was delicious, authentic, and cheap. I used to have chicken, rice and beans for $8 including the tip.Versailles is also very good.

anne

Hi Clotilde! I enjoyed reading your trip post!

I have a question but it’s not about your US travel. I remember you wrote about Androuët sur le Pouce in your MSN article “My Paris is better than yours” in 49 Rue Saint Roch. I was in Paris early this month and stayed in an apartment in Rue Saint Roch and went looking for this place but could not find it! #49 is a Depot Vente called A Vos Souhaite and right next door is a small restaurant in brown facade that sure wasn’t named Androuët sur le Pouce. Do you know if they moved?

Thank you!

teri

What a yummy tour. I’m jealous. But why no Mississippi restaurants? A year ago, I’d tell you to stop at the Gumbo House in Ocean Springs; now, I don’t know if it’s there.

No suggestions about cookbooks, just the more the merrier.

But a couple of pieces of advice, if I may. First, throw back any gumbo, red beans and rice, or jambalaya recipes that call for tomatoes. Tomatoes belong in etoufee, and etoufee alone.

A good gumbo starts with equal parts fat and flour that take a good hour to brown. (It helps if your friends come over and bring beers in the kitchen while you slowing stir. Two beers a piece ought to do it.)

Any trinity mixture — onion, green pepper and celery, 2 to 1 to 1 ratio — used for any recipe should be pulsed in a food processor. I know this will go against your good dicing judgment, but you must. It needs to be just short of pulpy.

Also, if you want to make food that tastes like New Orleans and southern Louisiana, you must buy two other things not currently in your own cupboard: onion powder and garlic powder. It’s sad, but true, and if you leave them out you’ll find something lacking, despite how many rue-making beers you down.

If you’re reading good recipes, you’ll also notice another trend — for the most part, chicken, ham and sausage are paired together, while seafood stands alone. Therefore, if some recipe calls for you to make a chicken and shrimp gumbo, snap the book shut and move to the next.

If a recipe for bananas foster calls for a splash of orange juice concentrate, well, that’s the real deal.

http://thefogcomesin.blogspot.com/ Michelle

Breakfast At Brennan’s or Brennan’s New Orleans Cookbook – not much to look at ‘artie cookbook wise,’ but great food. Banana’s Foster – yummmmmmm!

Stanna

Hello,

I am going to Memphis, TN for a few days next week (from Denver). Can anyone recommend good places to eat there, including bakeries and coffee shops? Thank you.

http://www.fishcreekhouse.com Cyd

Ah too bad your travels didnt take you to our neck of the woods, Montana… Big Sky Country. We would have served you a sumptious wonderful Montana breakfast here at the Fish Creek House Bed and Breakfast. Next time!

http://yahoo.com Kleon Indig

Congratulations on a great web site. I am a new computer user and finding you was like coming home. Continued success.

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About Clotilde

Clotilde Dusoulier is a French food writer based in Paris. Her focus is on fresh, colorful, and seasonal foods, making room for both wholesome, nourishing dishes and sweet treats.

An enthusiastic explorer of flavors and observer of culinary trends, she contributes to international food and travel magazines, and writes cookbooks and guidebooks. She lives in Montmartre with her boyfriend and their young son. Learn more »